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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by djmmm on April 2, 2003, at 11:53:34
PET Scanning Can Predict Response to Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsNEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 26 - PET scanning can predict which patients with major depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are likely to respond to treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), according to a report in the March issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
However, the PET findings that predict a response in depressed patients are not the same as the response predictors seen in patients with OCD. Specifically, elevated right caudate activity is associated with treatment response in OCD patients, while decreased right amygdala activity and increased midline prefrontal activity are associated with a response in depressed patients.
"These findings suggest that, although both OCD and major depressive disorder respond to SRIs, the two syndromes have different neurobiological substrates for response," lead author Dr. Sanjaya Saxena, from the University of California at Los Angeles, and colleagues note.
The results are based on a study of 27 OCD patients, 27 patients with major depressive disorder, and 17 patients with both conditions, who underwent cerebral PET scans before and after being treated with paroxetine for 8 to 12 weeks. Symptom questionnaires were also completed before and after treatment.
"The study demonstrates the potential of functional brain imaging to predict how a patient will respond to treatment," Dr. Saxena said in a statement. "Pretreatment brain scans hold promise for accelerating the sometimes painstaking process of identifying the best treatment for an individual patient and speeding development of new interventions."
Am J Psychiatry 2003;160:522-532.
Posted by Dave1 on April 3, 2003, at 10:18:02
In reply to PET Scanning Can Predict Response to SSRIs, posted by djmmm on April 2, 2003, at 11:53:34
Hi,
My pdoc said that researchers have been trying for years to use head scans to diagnose mental ailments but so far haven't come up with anything. So now when I see articles like the one you posted I am skeptical. Maybe down the line they will come up with something solid. Don't mean to knock your article, just wanted to let you know what I heard.
Bye,
Dave
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